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15
The ss. “ City of Canterbury,” from Calcutta, arrived at Gravesend on the
26(h February, having landed a Goanese steward at Colombo on the 30th January,
suffering from suspected Small.pox. The diagnosis of Small.pox was not definitely
confirmed on the case being examined ashore.
The patient's personal effects were landed with him; all infected bedding was
destroyed, and the infected quarters fumigated by the Sanitary Authority at Colombo.
No other case occurred.
On the 18th May a letter was received from Hartlepool enclosing a copy of a letter
from the Medical Officer of Health for South Shields, stating that one of the crew of
the ss. “ Redriff “ had been notified as suffering from Small.pox—onset, 11th May;
rash, 15th May. The patient left his ship at Hartlepool on the 11th May, as he thought
he had “ rheumatism.“ It was also stated that he had probably contracted the infection
from his son and wife, who had also been notified as suffering from the disease.
Enquiries were made of the owners of the vessel, and it was ascertained that the
vessel would be berthing at Eotherhithe on the 18th instant. Instructions were issued
for the crew to be retained on board until seen by your Acting Medical Officer. The
vessel was visited at 2 p.m. on the 18th instant, and the crew of nineteen (19) were
offered vaccination. All save two (2) were vaccinated. The bedding and effects of
the contacts were removed to Denton Hospital for disinfection, and the vessel
fumigated with sulphur and washed down with “ Izal ” solution.
The vessel left for the Tyne on the 19th instant, the Medical Officer for the Tyne
being notified of the circumstances by telegram and subsequently by letter.
The ss. “ Mashobra ” arrived at Gravesend on the 10th April, having landed
a native member of the crew at Madras suffering from Small.pox. The contacts with
the case (60 in number) were re.vaccinated on discovery of the case. All the infected
bedding and effects were destroyed at Madras and disinfection carried out. No other
case occurred.
The ss. “ Glenamoy,” from Vladivostock, arrived at Gravesend on the 19th April.
An engineer, suffering from Small.pox, was landed at Singapore, where the whole of
the crew were vaccinated and the ship disinfected. No other case occurred.
The ss. “ Kashgar ” arrived at Gravesend on the 16th June, from Yokohama,
having landed one of the crew to hospital at Kobe, suffering from Small.pox. All
infected bedding was taken ashore and disinfected by the Japanese Port Authority,
with the exception of the patient's mattress, which was burned in the ship's furnace.
The infected cabin was fumigated and washed down with carbolic solution.
The Goanese stewards and the second wireless operator were vaccinated by the
Japanese Port Authority, and the remainder of the crew, except those showing marks
of recent vaccination, by the ship's surgeon. No other case occurred.
The ss. “ Antenor ” arrived at Gravesend on the 19th July, from Dalny, having
landed a member of the European crew at Taku Bar, suffering from Small.pox. The
whole of the crew were vaccinated and the infected quarters disinfected. No other
case occurred.
Enteric Fever.
On the loth Mav a telephone message was received from the Blue Star Line
(1920), Ltd., to the effect that the Captain of the ss. “ Arandora ” had wired advice
of five cases of Enteric Fever amongst the crew of the vessel.
The vessel duly arrived at Gravesend, from Buenos Aires, on the 17th May, and
was met by the Boarding Medical Officer in the Lower Reach, and the cases were
removed to the Hospital of this Authority at Denton.